Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): A Common Childhood Cancer
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): A Common Childhood Cancer
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer. Most common in children aged 1 to 5, this cancer of the white blood cells is highly curable.
In acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, there is an overproduction of immature white blood cells or lymphoblasts. These immature cells crowd out the normal blood cells in the bone marrow and affect the production of new cells. This condition is also known as acute lymphocytic leukaemia.
“ALL is a common form of leukaemia in children. It accounts for about 30 per cent of all cancers in children below the age of 15 in Singapore,” says Associate Professor Chan Mei Yoke, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Paediatrics Subspecialties, Haematology/Oncology Service, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group.
What causes acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
The exact cause of ALL is unknown. However, there are certain risk factors associated with this childhood leukaemia. These risk factors include:
Exposure to prior radiation therapy or chemotherapy
Certain genetic disorders such as Down syndrome
Related article: Down syndrome - 3 things parents need to know
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia symptoms
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia symptoms can be very non-specific in nature, and mimic other conditions such as the flu. Patients may also present with symptoms due to the reduced production of red blood cells, like tiredness and pallor. In severe cases, the cancer can spread to the brain and spinal cord.
Common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia symptoms include the following:
Fatigue and general lack of energy
Unnaturally pale complexion (pallor)
Shortness of breath
Recurrent fever
Frequent infections
Easy bruising
Bleeding from nose/gums
Prolonged bleeding from wounds
Joint and bone pains
Loss of appetite
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or abdomen
Related article: Top signs of other common childhood cancers in Singapore
“The early signs of ALL can be easily mistaken for the flu. Parents often dismiss it as a common cold,” says Prof Chan.
ALL can be diagnosed with a blood test and a bone marrow test. Other tests such as a CT scan and lumbar puncture may also be carried out to determine the extent of the cancer.
“A blood test will show low numbers of normal white blood cells and the presence of abnormal leukaemia cells,” says Prof Chan.
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Article written by Anjana Motihar Chandra, with expert input from the Department of Paediatrics Subspecialties, Haematology/Oncology Service, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group, for HealthXchange.
Articles on HealthXchange.com.sg are meant for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional surgical, medical or health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.
